Suspect in fatal Inglewood hit-and-run in custody

Jesus Cazares, 38, of Inglewood was arrested in connection with the death of a 47-year-old Santa Monica woman who was struck by a pickup truck just after she placed a child in a car safety seat.

Jesus Cazares, 38, of Inglewood was arrested in connection with the death of a 47-year-old Santa Monica woman who was struck by a pickup truck just after she placed a child in a car safety seat. (Inglewood Police Department)

Christine Mai-Duc

Inglewood police arrested a 38-year-old man Sunday who allegedly struck and killed a woman moments after she placed a child in a car safety seat, authorities said.

Jesus Cazares surrendered about 3 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release from the Inglewood Police Department.

The woman, identified by police as Elisa Alvarez, 47, of Santa Monica, was leaving a family birthday party in Inglewood just after 10 p.m. Saturday, police said. She had just placed a child into a parked car when a pickup truck struck her, throwing her 30 feet into the air, before driving off.

Alvarez was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The child was not harmed.

In a statement, police said news coverage of the incident helped authorities identify Cazares, who later called and told police that he wanted to turn himself in.

Police also found a pickup truck matching the description of the vehicle that struck Alvarez, about a half mile away and have taken it as evidence.

Cazares was booked at the city jail on felony hit-and-run charges and is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Police said the investigation was ongoing and that other charges could be added.